Stephen Wallem

Stephen Wallem
Wallem in 2011
Born	(1968-06-14) June 14, 1968 Rockford, Illinois, U.S.
Occupation	Actor
Relatives	Linda Wallem (sister)

Stephen Wallem (born June 14, 1968) is an American stage and television actor. He is best known for his one man musical revue, "Off the Wallem", as well as numerous theater productions. Wallem is also a playwright, composer, and director (see link to website below).^[1] From 2009 to 2015, he portrayed Thor Lundgren in the Showtime series Nurse Jackie. He is the brother of Linda Wallem, who is an actress, a writer, and a producer.^[2]

Life and career

Wallem was born and raised in Rockford, Illinois, and worked as a stage actor and After Dark Award-winning cabaret singer in Chicago before moving to New York to make his television debut on Nurse Jackie. National tours include Forever Plaid, Into the Woods and Scrooge with Richard Chamberlain. He accrued nearly 2,500 performances as both 'Jinx' and 'Sparky' in various companies of Forever Plaid, including Chicago, Las Vegas, Denver and the first national tour. Wallem portrayed 'Judas'/'Padre' in the Court Theatre's acclaimed production of Man Of La Mancha (After Dark Award for 'Outstanding Performance', Joseph Jefferson Award for 'Best Ensemble') and reprised his performance at the Long Wharf Theatre in New Haven. For the Ravinia Festival, he appeared with Tony-winners Patti LuPone, Audra McDonald, Michael Cerveris and George Hearn in A Little Night Music, Passion, Sunday In The Park With George and Doll with David Hyde Pierce (all directed by Lonny Price). Wallem also originated the role of 'Arvid' in the Broadway workshop of Kristina från Duvemåla, written by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus of ABBA.^[3]

After wrapping up season 3 of Nurse Jackie, Wallem teamed up with costar Edie Falco for a cabaret show entitled The Other Steve and Edie. The production, conceived by Wallem and Falco with musical direction by three-time After Dark Award winner Beckie Menzie and direction by Tony Humrichouser, ran for a 3-night limited engagement at The Laurie Beechman Theatre.^[4] The show received numerous critical accolades, with one reviewer stating “There was a well thought out balance between serious ballads and more humorous pieces, the obvious forte of Wallem, who delighted the crowd with two parodies, one a spoof of “wordy lyrics,” another a takeoff on Wicked’s “Defying Gravity,” changed to “Defying Parody”.^[5]

Wallem is openly gay.^[2]

References